Apply to student teach

In order to student teach, students must apply for and receive permission from the Department of Education. 

Students will be considered and approved for student teaching if they meet the following criteria by the start of the student teaching experience. Some items may be in process; however, when the student applies for permission to student teach:

Student teaching requirements:

• First Friday in November of Junior year for students wishing to student teach during the Fall semester of Senior year.
• First Friday in March of Junior year for students wishing to student-teach during the Spring semester of Senior year.
• For graduates and transfers, the application to student-teach should be completed no later than the end of the first on-campus semester.

Students applying after these deadlines have no assurance that their applications will be considered and approved for student teaching during the requested semester. Extension of the professional education sequence may be necessary.

CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL TO STUDENT TEACH

The following criteria must be met by the time the student teaching experience begins. Some items may be in process; however, when the student applies for permission to student teach.

1. Acceptance to the Teacher Education Program at Hope College.
2. Minimum GPA of 2.75 (3.0 for students requesting placements outside West Michigan) on a 4.0 scale in:
• Overall coursework at Hope College
• Coursework in major and minor areas of study
• Teacher Education coursework

This means students must have the required GPAs to be approved. Approval will be withdrawn if any of the GPAs fall below 2.75 before the student teaching experience begins (as approved by the education faculty on August 19, 2003). 

1. Successful completion of all coursework in the Professional Education Sequence.
2. Successful completion of at least 90% of required coursework in both the major and minor areas of study prior to the start of the student teaching experience (approved by the education faculty on August 25, 2015).
3. Evidence of ability to work effectively in the classroom as demonstrated in disposition assessments and field experiences in professional education coursework.
4. Recommendation to student teach from clinical experience supervisors from the Level II education coursework.
5. Evidence of diverse clinical experience (a placement with a 20% or more racial/ethnic classroom population and a placement with a 20% or more low socio-economic classroom population) and a clinical experience that includes students with exceptional needs (students with disabilities and/or giftedness).
6. Endorsement from the department faculty in a major field of study.

Application process:

Students will be notified by email of a meeting regarding the application process.

1. A Student Teaching Application must be electronically submitted online by the stated deadline.
2. The Education Department will request an endorsement from the chairperson of the department of the major field of study.
3. Based on the above criteria and procedures, the education department carefully reviews applications to student-teach. Each student will be notified in writing of the department’s decision to approve or deny the application.
4. The Director of Student Teaching will notify the student of a potential student teaching placement.
5. Students will be asked to interview with school personnel (administrator, cooperating teacher) prior to confirming the placement.
6. Once a placement is confirmed, changes will not be made unless deemed necessary by the Director of Student Teaching.

Responsibility for smooth matriculation from admission to certification rests with the student. The student is responsible for reading the Education Department Handbook and following procedures and deadlines outlined therein.

appeals

Students who have been denied permission to student teach may appeal the decision. Procedures are outlined in the Appeals Process section of the website.

student teaching placements:

Student Teachers will be placed in a local classroom with at least one cooperating teacher who is highly qualified in their content area. They will also be assigned to and observed by an experienced Hope College supervisor. The college supervisor will visit the student in the field during the placement, offer feedback and encouragement, and assign the final grade. 

All on-campus student teaching placements are assigned by the Director of Student Teaching and located within a 30-mile radius of Hope College. 

​​While every effort is made to assist the student, the department is not responsible for transportation to and from student teaching placements. 

Elementary certification

Students seeking elementary (PK-6 All-Subjects) certification are assigned to an elementary classroom in their primary grade band (Pk-3 or 3-6).

Students seeking elementary certification (grades PK-6 All-Subjects) with an endorsement in learning disabilities and/or emotional impairments complete an additional student teaching assignment in the appropriate special education classroom through the end of the May term.

Those seeking elementary certification (PK-6 All-Subjects) with an endorsement in Spanish will student teach in a Spanish immersion classroom.

secondary certification

Students seeking secondary certification (grades 5-12) are assigned a secondary assignment in their primary grade band (5-9 or 7-12) and content area(s) of endorsement.

Students following the secondary track for a K–12 endorsement in music, visual arts, physical education/health, or Spanish receive an assignment in their endorsement area that includes experiences at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Special education majors following the secondary certification track will student teach in a special education setting at the middle or high school level. Efforts will also be made to provide a student-teaching opportunity in the minor area of study.

the professional semester:

We offer student teaching in both the fall and spring semesters. All students seeking teacher certification spend at least one semester (16 weeks) in a full-day student teaching assignment appropriate to their level and subject specialty.

This experience is part of the Professional Semester, which includes:

• Student teaching placement
• Student Teaching Seminar (EDUC 457)
• Senior Seminar (unless taken in a previous semester)

Student teachers may not enroll in any additional courses without the Director of Student Teaching's permission.

student teaching seminar (educ 457):

During the student teaching experience, all student teachers are required to register for and attend the weekly Student Teaching Seminar. This seminar-style course is intended to provide opportunities for teacher candidates to reflect on their emerging practice as they connect course content to their field practice. Teacher candidates collaborate with peers about their clinical experiences and reflect on their teacher identities. Teacher candidates engage with stakeholders beyond the classroom to prepare for entry into the profession, including alumni, district personnel, and community agencies.